Date

blueberry crop News

Early March and April is prime season for growing and cultivating blueberry plants and bushes, but are also reminders that the last hints of winter could pop up at any time. Sudden drops in temperature are bad news for blueberry growers, as frost can severely damage blueberry bushes and buds. Learn about five helpful tips and tricks for blueberry bush frost protection in the early months of ...

The first national study to map U.S. wild bees suggests they’re disappearing in many of the country’s most important farmlands — including California’s Central Valley, the Midwest’s corn belt and the Mississippi River valley. If losses of these crucial pollinators continue, the new nationwide assessment indicates that farmers will face increasing costs — and ...

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer has announced that USDA awarded more than $28 million through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to solve critical specialty crop agriculture issues, address priorities and solve problems through multifunctional research and extension. The Specialty Crop Research Initiative was established by the 2008 Farm Bill to support the specialty crop industry by ...

Grants totaling nearly US$1 million have been awarded for projects that use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches to reduce pesticide risk. The grants will support the demonstration of innovative IPM practices, technologies, outreach and education. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. In ...

University of Florida scientists believe they have pinpointed the exact compounds in strawberries that give the fruit its delightfully unique flavor – findings that will allow UF breeders to create more flavorful varieties even faster. What’s more, the researchers believe that eventually, those naturally occurring compounds will be used to make processed foods taste ...

Today, beekeepers from across the country gathered at a national conference, with environmental organizations at their side, to draw attention to the growing plight facing their industry –the decline of honey bees – a problem that has far reaching implications for the U.S. economy. "Bees and other pollinators are the underpinnings of a successful agricultural economy," said ...

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released its 2012 “Dirty Dozen” list, which records the fruits and vegetables that the non-profit has found to be the most contaminated with pesticides. The EWG’s intention by publishing the list is informing consumers who may want to choose organic options when purchasing the produce that are more likely to be contaminated when ...

Global food production may be approaching another major crisis. Crops around the world are pollinated by honeybees, but bee populations are dying off rapidly due to excessive use of pesticides and other environmental factors. The threat of food production losses is becoming painfully apparent, and the economic, social and environmental costs could be staggering. This growing threat to the global ...

In the summer of 2015, Pedro Torres Plaza founded Horticultorres S. de R.L. de C.V., a new company active in the field providing horticultural supplies and consulting to the Mexican greenhouse industry. Before the start of Horticultorres, Torres, an entrepreneur, realized early on that horticulture was his passion. After graduating from ITESM, campus Queretaro as an Agronomist, ...

Walmart today launched its new global commitment to sustainable agriculture that will help small and medium sized farmers expand their businesses, get more income for their products, and reduce the environmental impact of farming. The initiative also seeks to strengthen local economies while providing customers around the world with long-term access to affordable, high-quality, fresh food. "More ...